Shloka 19
अध्याय २८१ — दानधर्मः, न्यायागतधनम्, ऋणत्रय-परिशोधनं च
Dāna ethics, lawful wealth, and settling obligations
तदा गृहीतः कौरव्य निस्तेजा: समपद्यत । परंतु उस ब्रह्महत्याने यत्नपूर्वक उनका पीछा करके वहाँ भी उन्हें जा पकड़ा। कुरुनन्दन! ब्रह्महत्याद्वारा पकड़ लिये जानेपर इन्द्र निस्तेज हो गये || १८ ई ।। तस्या व्यपोहने शक्र: पर॑ यत्नं चकार ह
tadā gṛhītaḥ kauravya nistejāḥ samapadyata | parantu sā brahmahatyā yatnapūrvakaṃ tam anuyāya tatraiva enam api jagrāha | kurunandana! brahmahatyayā gṛhīte indre nistejo 'bhavat ||
Bhīṣma berkata: “Ketika itu, wahai Kauravya, apabila dia ditangkap, lenyaplah sinar kewibawaannya. Namun dosa Brahmahatyā itu mengejarnya dengan sengaja dan menangkapnya bahkan di sana. Wahai kebanggaan kaum Kuru, apabila Indra digenggam oleh Brahmahatyā, hilanglah kemegahannya.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage underscores that grave wrongdoing (especially brahmahatyā) carries an inescapable moral consequence: even a powerful figure like Indra cannot evade the taint, and the loss of tejas (radiance, authority, spiritual power) symbolizes the ethical cost of adharma.
Bhishma narrates that Indra, despite attempts to escape or ward off the consequence, is pursued by the personified sin of brahmahatyā, which catches him; upon being seized, Indra becomes nisteja—his splendor and potency diminish.